Heat packages and methods of their use
The present invention provides a heat package wherein a surface of a generating heat element that generates heat when exposed to atmosphere is placed against or attached to a heat conductive member. The heat element is protected from atmosphere until use. The heat package may include a heat-generating element attached to an insulating member with one or more air spaced there between. An outer surface of the heat-generating element can be exposed to atmosphere to produce heat when desired.
This application takes priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/482,726, filed Jun. 26, 2003.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to heat packages for heating packaged food, use for therapeutic purposes and for heating other materials without using conventional heat sources such as electric energy, gas, oil charcoal etc.
2. Background
Packaged food is a widely accepted convenient food delivery system. Consumers' purchase decisions relating to such items are often driven by product convenience, portability, as well as how closely the food product parallels a conventionally prepared food item. Many such conventionally prepared foods are served hot. The emphasis on convenience is readily illustrated by packaged food products of interest to students (‘SNACKABLES™’), Tuna-to-Go, etc.) as well as those of interest to hunters, campers and employees or personnel at remote locations (sandwiches, freeze-dried foods, dehydrated foods). Packaged food that is subsequently heated during a flight is often used by airlines. As highlighted by these examples, pre-packaged food is widely utilized by (a) persons in remote or inconveniently located sites, (b) persons in situations not conducive to traditional food storage and preparation and (c) persons to whom the convenience of pre-packaged food is of paramount importance. In many such situations it is often impractical or unsafe to utilize conventional heat sources such as electric, gas or oil heaters or other traditional heating methods.
Much packaged ready-to-eat food is stored and served at room temperature (ambient temperature) despite the fact that the taste experience would improve materially were the food warmer when consumed. Moreover, consumers would prefer the option of purchasing food both convenient in packaging and easily heated without the need for conventional heating equipment. Such an option can be superior to and different from packaged food items presently available.
In colder environments increasing food temperature by as few as ten or twenty degrees Fahrenheit may significantly improve the quality of the food's taste. Food products packaged with heat elements designed and placed to heat the food contents to a degree sufficient to improve the perceived taste quality would be desirable for various entities or individuals including the institutional food delivery programs in prisons, hospitals, etc.
In many other situations, people need access to heat packages designed as comfort and therapeutic elements and in situations requiring responses to pain and/or discomfort due to bodily injury or environmental extremes. The same is true for animals, particularly domesticated animals. Self-generating heat chambers or enclosures can also be used to enclose botanical elements during cold weather. At present there are few self-heating conveniently packaged products addressing these needs, at least some of which lack ergonomic flexibility and are inefficient in heat delivery.
Safe materials that generate heat when exposed to atmosphere (i.e., by exothermic reaction) have been available for some time and are utilized, for example, in heating pads. The amount and consistency of heat generated varies depending upon the type of materials used that generate heat due to exothermic reaction, the quantity of the material used, the extent of exposure to atmosphere, etc.
This invention provides heat packages and heat elements for heating food and other materials and for use as heat pads. This invention also provides for self-contained food packages that can be heated when desired in a safe and efficient manner without the need for conventional heating sources such as stoves, electric heaters and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a heat package that includes a heat generating element or heat element that generates heat when exposed to atmosphere. An insulating material may be placed or juxtaposed to a surface of the heat element to reduce loss of heat to the environment and direct the generated heat toward the object that is desired to be heated. In one aspect, one or more air passages or spaces are provided between the heat element and the insulating material. A heat-conductive member may be placed on the heat element surface to absorb and evenly distribute heat to an object. A fabric or other soft material may be used instead when such heat packages are used on human or animals. The heat package may be pre-formed to fit a part of a human or an animal body or any other desired object. Straps or other devices may be attached to the heat package to arrange and/or secure the heat package about an object. The heat element surfaces to be exposed to atmosphere to generate heat are insulated or protected from atmosphere by a removable material that prevents exposure of the heat element to the atmosphere until its use is desired.
In another embodiment, the heat package may include a number of heat element strips or heat element members arranged in a pattern and placed against a heat conductive material. The heat strips may be partially protected from atmosphere by insulating material that prevents at least some of the heat from dissipating to atmosphere during use of the heat package. The heat strips may be attached on one or more outer surfaces of the container.
In another embodiment the heat package includes a container that provides air gaps or passages when placed against a heat element. In another embodiment, a heat element may be attached to a heat conductive member and wherein all surfaces that are exposed to atmosphere are protected from atmosphere until use.
Examples of the more important features of the invention have been summarized (albeit rather broadly) in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the contributions they represent to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.
For detailed understanding of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing:
Still referring to
Instead of using a container 61, a relatively flat member 67 of any shape and size may be used, as shown in the heat package 60a of
The embodiment 70 shown in
In the embodiments of
It should be understood that embodiments of the present invention can include heat elements formulated or configured to produce selected amounts of thermal energy. For instance, the heat element can be configured to heat a material to no greater than a maximum temperature. This may be advantageous, for instance, to prevent a food, such as infant formula, from injuring a child when ingested. Also, the heat element can be configured to heat a material at least a minimum temperature, such a temperature at which the material is predicted to have a specified degree of sterilization. Other embodiments can include a selected temperature range. In still other embodiments, the heat produced by the heat element can be user selectable. For example, a selective removal of the insulating material and thus the selective exposure of the heat element to the atmosphere can produce a corresponding controllable heat generation by the heat element. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the seal or other material or member covering the heat element can be re-usable, e.g., re-attached to the heat element. This may be advantageous to temporarily or permanently halt the heating process.
The foregoing description is directed to particular embodiments of the present invention for the purpose of illustration and explanation. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that many modifications and changes to the embodiment set for the above are possible without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such modifications and changes.
Claims
1. A disposable heat package, comprising:
- a container formed using an insulating member;
- a heat-generating element in the container, wherein the heat-generating element generates heat when it comes in contact with the outside air;
- a heat-conductive container configured to contain a material to be heated, placed on the heat-generating element for transferring heat from the heat-generating element to the material inside the heat-conductive container, wherein the heat-generating element is placed only on one of a side and bottom surface of the heat-conductive container; and
- a disposable seal for protecting the heat-generating element from the outside air, and wherein the heat-generating element is exposed to the outside air only when the disposable insulating member is removed from the container formed of the insulating member.
2. The heat package of claim 1 further comprising at least one air space between the heat-generating element and the container formed using the insulating member.
3. The heat package of claim 2 wherein the at least one air space includes at least one air channel between the heat-generating element and the container formed using the insulating member.
4. The heat package of claim 3, wherein the heat-conductive container is a metallic member.
5. The heat package of claim 1, wherein the disposable seal surrounds the container and prevents exposure of the heat generating element to the outside air atmosphere.
6. The heat package of claim 5, wherein the heat-generating element generates heat when the seal is removed from the heat package.
7. The heat package of claim 1, wherein the heat-generating element lines an inside surface of the container.
8. The heat package of claim 1, wherein at least a surface of the heat-generating element is sealed from the atmosphere with the disposable seal.
9. The heat package of claim 8, wherein the disposable seal is made from one of (i) a plastic material; (ii) a polyurethane material; (iii) a metal; and (iv) an alloy.
10. The heat package of claim 1, wherein the heat-generating element comprises a plurality of spaced apart strips, each strip generating heat when exposed to the outside air atmosphere.
11. The heat package of claim 10, wherein the plurality of heat-generating strips are arranged in a pre-determined pattern.
12. A heat package, comprising:
- a heat-conductive container configured to hold therein a material to be heated;
- a heat-generating element attached to an outside surface of the heat-conductive container, the heat-generating element configured to generate heat when exposed to an outside air; and
- a removable seal configured to seal an outside surface of the heat-generating element, wherein the heat-generating element is exposed to the outside air to generate heat only when the seal is removed from the heat-generating element.
13. The heat package of claim 12 further comprising an insulating material attached to a surface of the heat-generating element that is not in contact with the heat-conductive container to aid in conducting heat generated by the heat-generating element toward the heat-conductive container.
14. The heat package of claim 12, wherein the heat-conductive container contains the material therein and a lid that seals the material in the container.
15. The heat package of claim 12, wherein the heat-generating element includes a plurality of heat members attached to a surface of the heat-conductive container with an air space between the heat members.
16. The heat package of claim 12, wherein the heat-generating element wraps around the heat-conductive member.
17. The heat package of claim 16 further comprising an insulating member that wraps around the heat-generating element.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jun 25, 2004
Date of Patent: Nov 30, 2010
Patent Publication Number: 20040261783
Inventors: Stephanie N. Madan (Houston, TX), Paul S. Madan (Houston, TX)
Primary Examiner: Mohammad M Ali
Application Number: 10/877,328
International Classification: F25D 3/00 (20060101);